Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina questioned offside law, which caused damage to Taiwan Awoniyi during the draw with Leicester.
The Forest striker collided with a pillar and suffered a ruptured gut rupture on the city ground while trying to lock the pass from Anthony Elanga.
The striker received a lengthy treatment after his injury, but then tried to continue the game despite the obvious discomfort, requiring emergency abdominal surgery on Tuesday.
Leicester midfielder Facundo Buonanotte also collided with the upright after Elanga was allowed to move forward, despite a noticeable offside.
Assistant Sian Massey-Ellis delayed raising the flag and continued the game.
Aina has since challenged offside law, which directed officials to delay flags unless they are 100% sure the player is offside.
"Anthony (Elanga) is Miles' offside. It can be seen all over the world, and I can see it from where I am." Aina told The Daily Mail.
"You think 'offside'. Can you definitely raise the flag?
“Have to see it and then see that.
The Awoniyi incident has rekindled debate about the offside rules of football.
Assistant referee Massey-Ellis lowers her flag as per IFAB order Only allowable in very clear offenses if the player is about to score or score/definitely scored into the opponent's free throw area.
PGMOL is responsible for the refereeship laws of the Premier League and uses IFAB's directives in terms of VAR protocols - believes that the assistant can raise the flag if 100% believe that the player is offside. However, if there is any doubt, they will lower the flag.
Analyze Sky Sports Events Referee watchDermot Gallagher said: "You see her (Massey-Ellis) explaining to the (Leicester) goalkeeper because even though he is asking her why she is not marked.
“You can clearly see her saying that the higher the distance he is, it’s not enough, I have to hold my flag. It’s not the law – it’s the directive.
"The law is offside, but the assistant's instructions are because we have var, if he put it in the net, please don't lift the flag as early as possible and you can go back and check it."
One of the benefits of this policy is to stop effective goals excluded by early flag errors and help mitigate human errors. It has been in the Premier League since 2021, and while events like Awoniyi are rare, the injury of the Forest striker has sparked a conversation about the ruling.
There are calls around the Premier League to delay the flag in a clear offside situation.
Speech Referee watchStephen Warnock said: “It must be common sense, and common sense must start at some point.
"Common sense tells you: three to four yards, raise the flag, stop these things from happening. I didn't go to Sian Massey-Ellis, I'm talking about rulemakers.
"If it's two to three yards (offside), and there's something in your mind: offside or isn't it? I'm not sure here. Then, keep the flag, I understand that.
"But? Just raise your flag."
Manchester City defender John Stones was injured during the game stage and was later "excluded from offside" in December 2023, prompting an angry response from Pep Guardiola.
He said: "I don't understand. Obviously, offside, now he's hurt. They said 'You're right, you're right... but it's too late. It's not them (officials), the rules come from the big boss... but I don't understand."
During the season's opening weekend, Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson showed up with the fourth official while he was clearly offside. Gary Neville complained about his offside process at the joint trial “14 days.”
Warnock added in his speech again during referee viewing this week: "We are studying (Awoniyi incident) and go: Is this what we have been waiting for? Is it something that needs to change the rules?
"Because we've all been talking about collision A for so many years and the assistant referee said, 'By the way, that's offside'. We all know that's, why don't you make this decision?"